Decorticating machine



July 13 1926. 1,592,761

A. FREY DECORTICATING momma Filed Sept- 5. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AT' 'I-LYO Frqy W I I ATTORNEYS July 13 1926.

A. FREY DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J nZaH n zvamok Arluro Fr y WITNBSES I 0.4 a. (,1; w,

ATTORNEYS A. FREY DECORTICATING MACHINE July 13 1926.

Filed p 23, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTOR EYS Arturo Rea BY ported on legs 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ARTURO FREY, OF SAN JUAN DE QUADALUPE, MEXICO.

DECORTICATING MACHINE.

Application filed September 23, 1925, Serial No. 58,175, and in Mexico 1924.

This invention relates to a machine for taking the fiber from the lechuguilla leaf or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which automatically takes hold of and grips the leaf, strips the skin therefrom, takes oil the pulp, presses out the fibers to avoid curling, cuts the head from the fibers, and delivers the fibers to the receptacle or other desired point.

Another object is to provide a machine of this characterrwhich is readily portable and which is simple, and durable construction, reliable in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 1 are fragmentary views in side elevation, said views together showing one side of a complete machine,

Figures 2 and 2 are similar views in top plan,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure i is a similar view on line H of F gure 1,

Figure 5 is a sectional V16WOI1 line 5-5 of Figure 1 Figure 6 is a detail view in top plan of one of the grippers provided for the leaves, and

Figure 7 is a view of the same in side elevation, I

Figure 8 is a detail view of the latch of the ironing mechanism.

In the drawings, it will be seen that the machine, comprises a frame designated generally at 1. The frame may be of any suitable construction but preferably includes side members 2 suitably connected and sup- An endless carrier is mounted on the frame and consists of a pair of sprocket chains 4 trained over sprocket wheels 5, two of the sprocket wheels being fixed on a shaft 6 rotatable in adjustable bearings '7 provided on the frame, the other two sprocket wheels being fixed on a drive shaft 8 rotatably fitted in bearings 9. On one end of the shaft 8 a pulley 10 is fixed whereby the shaft may be rotated fromany suitabar 13 between the chains.

ble source of power. On the other end of the shaft 8 a flywheel 11 is fixed.

At spaced intervals around the endless carrier leaf grippers or holders 12 are provided. Each gripper 12 comprises a cross bar 13 extending transversely of the endless carrier and secured to transversely alined links thereof, the end portions of the bar 13 projecting beyond the chains of the carrier. A bracket 1 1 is fixed on the cross On the bracket 14 apair of coacting-gripping elements or gripping hooks 15 are pivotally mounted. Each hook 15 has a body portion 16 pivoted as at 17 to the bracket 14 and an overlying bill 18, the bills being deflected from each other as clearly shown in Figure 6. The engaging portions of the hooks are straight and designed to permit the hooks to closely approach each other. The body portions of the hooks have interfitting gear teeth 19 which constrain the hooks to corresponding movement. The body portion of one hook has an arm 20 integrally formed therewith or otherwise suitably secured thereto, the outer end of the arm carrying a roller 21.

WVhen the endless carrier is rotated from the pulley 10 the upper run of the carrier moves to the left as shown in Figures 1 and 1. On the right hand end of the machine as viewed in Figure 1 a spreader 22, carried by a cross-piece 23 secured on the frame members is provided for opening or spreading the members of each pair of hooks as each pair travels up the adjacent end of the machine and starts back along the machine with the upper'run of the belt. Inwardly of the frame a slight distance from the point Where the hooks are opened a cross plate 23 is provided and has its central portion formed with a groove 2a. I11 the groove 24 of thecross plate 23, the tail of the leaf is placed and thus is arranged to be received between the members of the pair of hooks that have just been opened. The head of the leaf rests on a table 23 Meansis provided for pressing down the leaf just as the hooks embrace the same and this means comprises a presser arm 25 ivoted on a lug upstanding from the cross plate 23. The presser arm is actuated each time a pair of hooks ride over the cross plate 23 since one end of the cross bar 13 carrying the pair of hooks engages the lower end of an inclined rock arm 26, the upper end of which engages a lateral pin or projection 2. carried by a rock lever 28, the latter being connected with the presser arm by a link 29 and being biased to position to hold the presser arm up by means of a spring pressed rod 30.

After the leaf has been pressed down in between the hooks the hooks are closed by virtue of the engagement of the roller 21 of the arm 20 with one of the channel guides 81 provided for the ends of the cross bars 18. The hooks when closed firmly grip and hold the leaf and carry the same through a series of strippers mounted on the frame and now to be described.

Each stripping mechanism includes a relatively fixed though flexible knife 35 and a movable and flexible or resilient knife 36. The knife 35 is fixed on the frame below the upper run of the endless carrier and is spring pressed upwardly by means of blade spring 37. The movable knife 36 is carried on an oscillatable knife shaft 38 jourialed in bearings provided on the frame. The knife 36 is raised and lowered undo" the control of cam fingers 39 and 40 fixed on the shaft 38 and on a shaft 41 also journaled in bearings on the frame. The shafts 38 and 41 are constrained to corresponding movement by means of crank arms 42 and 43 fixed 011 the shafts 38 and 41 respectively and connected to each other by a link 44.

lVith this arrangement when the cross bar 13 engages the camming finger 40 of any one of the strippers, the camming finger 40 and the shaft 41 associated with the camming finger 40 is rocked. This movement of the shaft 4-1 is transmitted through the crank arms and link to the shaft 38 so as to elevate or swing upwardly the movable knife 36 whereby to permit the gripper on the active cross bar to pass under the mov able knife. Just as the movable knife is positioned over the leaf it is engaged therewith due to the action of the camming linger 39 which at this time is engaged by the cross bar 13 to rotate the knife shaft 35 so as to swing the movable knife downwardly on to the leaf and into stripping engagement therewith. The camming finger 39 is designed and proportioned to cause the mov able knife to closely follow the contour of the hook to insure engagement with the leaf immediately behind the hooks. Of course, when the movable knife engages the leaf it presses it down on the fixed knife so that the fixed knife also strips the skin from the leaf. Due to the resilient or springy character of the knives and to the action of the. spring 37 the knives will uniformly strip the leaf throughout its length notwithstanding its varying cross section.

In the machine shown there are three sets of strippers and the knives of each successive set vary only in design, the variation in design being necessary to carry out the progressive stripping action and extraction of the pulp. After the last set of knives has acted on the leaf, the fibers have a tendency to curl due to the fact that the last set of knives exerts such a severe stripping action as to set up considerable tension in the fibers and also due to the fact that there is a considerable difference in the length of the threads or strands making up the fibers.

For the purpose of counteracting this curling and preserving the fibers straight ironing or pressing means is provided and is operated in synchronism with and by the last set of strippers. This ironing or press ing mechanism comprises a shaft 45 journaled in suitable bearings provided therefor on the frame and having an arm 46 fixed thereto and carrying a pressing element or blade 46. A. crank arm 47 is fixed on the shaft 45 and has a pin and slot connection 48 with one end of a connecting rod 49, the other end. of the connecting rod being pivoted to a crank arm 50 fixed on the knife shaft 36 of the adjacent stripper. The shaft 45 has a collar 45 thereon and the collar has a notch 51 which coacts with a latch 5:2 urged into engagement with the notch by means of a retractile coil spring 53. The latch 52 has a releasing finger 54 integral therewith or suitably fixed thereto. By virtue of this arrangement the arm 46 and its blade 46 are elevated when the movable knife of the adjacent stripper is elevated due to the transmission of the motion of the knife shaft to the shaft 45 by the crank arm 4? connecting rod 49 and crank arm 50. However, when the knife 36 of the adjacent stripper descends the presser blade is held elevated because of the engagement of the latch 52 with the notch 51, the pin and slot connection 48 permitting the necessary independence of movement. hen the leaf comes under the presser blade the cross bar of the gripper carrying the same engages the releasing finger 54 to trip the latch and permit the presser to fall by its own weight.

After leaving the presser the leaf is carried over a conveyor 55 extending laterally of the frame and between the runs of the conveyor.

lVhile over the conveyor the fibers are cut from the'head by means of cutting mechanism including a fixed cutter se cured on a bracket 61 supported on the frame and a movable cutter 61 slidable in guides 62 also supported on the frame. The cutter is operated, that is raised and low ered to effect its action by virtue of its mounting on a rock arm 65 through the medium of a link 66. The rock arm 65 is fulcrumed on a bracket 67 and the rock arm or lever 65 is actuated from camming fingers 69 and 70 fixed on shafts 71 and 72 respectively, the shaft 71 having a crank arm 73 connected by a link 74: with the rock arm or lever 65. This shaft 71 also has a crank arm 77 connected by a link 7 6 with a crank arm 75 fixed on the shaft 72. WVith this operating means when the cross bar 13 of the gripper engages the finger the movable cutter 61 is elevated to permit the cross bar and hooks to pass but when the cross bar engages the camming finger 69 the movable cutter is forced downwardly to sever the fibers from the head. The fibers drop onto the conveyor 55 and the heads are carried around under the machine where they drop to the ground or floor.

The release of the heads of the leaves from the hook occurs as the result of the disengagement of the rollers 21 of the arms 20 with the channel guides 81 and of course this disengagement occurs as the grippers are carried down to the lower run of the endless carrier.

What I claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, a frame, an endless carrier mounted on the frame, grippers mounted on the carrier, a series of strippers carried by the frame and automatically operated from the grippers, means mounted on the frame and cont-rolled by the last stripper of the series for ironing out and straightening the fibers and counteracting the tendency of the fibres to curl and cutting mechanism mounted on the frame and controlled and actuated by the gripper.

2. In a machine of the character described, a frame, an endless carrier mounted on the frame, grippers mounted on the carrier, a series of strippers carried by the frame and automatically operated by the grippers, and means mounted on the frame and controlled by the last gripper of the series for ironing out and straightening the fibers and counteracting the tendency of the fibres to curl.

3. ln amachine of the character described, a frame, an endless carrier mounted on the frame, a plurality of grippers mounted on the carrier and a series of strippers carried by the frame and automatically and successively operated by the grippers. I

l. A machine of the character described and in accordance with claim 3, and wherein each of the strippers includes a fixed knife, a movable knife, a shaft carrying the movable knife, a camming finger connected to the shaft, and cooperable with the gripper, second shaft, means connecting the shafts to constrain them to opposite rotating movement and a camming linger carried by the second shaft and also cooperable with the gripper.

5. In a machine of the character described, a frame, an endless carrier mounted on the frame and including a pair of sprocket chains, grippers mounted on the carrier, each gripper including a cross bar secured to the sprocket chains, a bracket carried by each cross bar, and a pair of gripping hooks pivoted to the bracket and having interfitting teeth, means carried by the frame for spreading the hooks, one of said hooks having an arm, and a member on the frame oo-operable with the arm for closing the hooks.

(5. A machine of the character described, and in accordance with claim 5 and further characterized by the provision of means for pressing the objects to be gripped between the members of each pair of hooks.

7 A machine of the character described and in accordance with claim 5 and further characterized by the provision of means for pressing the objects to be gripped in between the members of each pair of hooks and comprising a lever engageable with the cross bar of each gripper, a presser means for transmitting the motion of the lever to the presser to actuate the same, and spring means for biasing the presser to inoperative position.

8. A machine of the character described and in accordance with claim 2 and wherein the presser includes a shaft, an arm carried by the shaft, a presser blade carried by the arm, means for rocking the shaft of the presser from the adjacent stripper, a latch for holding the shaft of the presser in such position as to maintain the blade elevated, said latch having a releasing finger engageable with the gripper.

9. In a machine of the character described, a frame, an endless carrier mounted on the frame, grippers mounted on the carrier, each gripper including a pair of gripping hooks, cooperable means carried by the hooks for constraining the members of each pair of hooks to corresponding movement toward and away from each other, positively operable means carried by the frame and engaging the hooks for spreading the same, and means for closing the hooks;

10. A machine of the character described and in accordance with claim 9 and wherein the means for closing each pair of hooks includes a stationary member on the frame, and a cooperable movable member carried by one of the books of the pair.

11. In a machine of the character described, a frame, an endless carrier mounted on the frame and including a pair of sproclc et chains, sprocket wheels and shafts supporting the chains, grippers mounted on the carrier, each gripper including a cross bar secured to the sprocket chains and projecting beyond the same, a bracket carried by each cross bar, a pair-of hooks pivoted to the bracket, means for spreading the hooks, guide means on the frame for receiving the ends of the cross bars when the same are on the upper run of the endless carrier, one of said hooks having an arm 00- operable With one of the guides for closing the hooks.

12. A machine of the character described 5 and in accordance with claim 11 and further characterized by the provision of leaf supporting means on the frame to permit the hooks to automatically grip the leaves.

13. A machine of the character described and in accordance with claim 11 and further characterized by the provision of leaf supporting means on the frame and means for holding the leaves on said supporting means to insure proper engagement of the hooks with the leaves.

ARTURQ FREY. 

